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New state regulations target gun ownership from every angle BY PAUL HUGHES REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

Firearms Training Unit Detective Barbara J. Mattson of the Connecticut State Police holds up a Bushmaster AR-15 rifle, the same make and model of gun used by Adam Lanza in the Sandy Hook School shooting, for a demonstration during a hearing of a legislative subcommittee reviewing gun laws, at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford on Jan. 28. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

New state laws are creating a number of additional requirements regarding the sale, purchase and possession of rifles, shotguns and ammunition.

One of the new laws regulates the private sale of long guns. However, the new requirements do not apply to sales between federally licensed firearm manufacturers and dealers, importers and dealers, or dealers.

State law now prohibits the retail sale of long guns to anyone under 18 years of age.

Individuals must also now be age 21 to purchase a semi-automatic centerfire rifle that has or accepts a magazine with a capacity of more than five rounds.

This restriction does not apply to members of local police departments, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Department of Correction or the armed services for use in the discharge of their duties.

The law also creates a new eligibility certificate for long guns. At this time, anyone buying or receiving a long gun must have a such a certificate or a valid handgun permit, handgun dealer permit, or handgun eligibility certificate.

You must be age 18 to obtain a long gun certificate from the state police. These certificates are good for five years. It will cost $35 to obtain initial certificates and renewals.

The law also adds a buyer's date and place of birth to the information required on a long gun receipt. Existing law requires such receipts to also contain the buyer's name and address, the make, model, serial number, caliber and general description of the firearm, and transfer date.

The state police must include long gun certificates in the computer database it maintains for sellers to verify the validity of a purchaser's gun credential.

Applicants must first complete background checks. Unlike handguns, there are no temporary eligibility certificates.

THE LAW PERMITS STATE POLICE TO REJECT applications based on an individual's criminal record or mental health history. Rejected applicants may appeal to the Board of Firearms Permit Examiners.

The certificates can be revoked if holders commit some act that disqualifies them.

In such cases, state police must notify the person of the revocation in writing. Then, the newly revoked holder has five days to return the certificate.

If that deadline is missed, the individual could be charged with a class A misdemeanor. Convictions are punishable by up one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.

The newly adopted law addresses long gun sales by people other than gun dealers

It requires sellers to document the transaction with state police, maintain copies of the record and obtain an authorization number from state police. Buyers also must undergo a national instant criminal background check. Additionally, state police must authorize or deny the sale or transfer.

A federally licensed firearm dealer upon request of a buyer or seller must do a background check to determine that the purchaser is eligible to receive the rifle or shotgun. A sale or transfer cannot take place if the response indicates the subject is ineligible to receive the gun.

The dealer can charge up to $20 for the background check.

When a transaction is completed, the seller or buyer must fill out a state police form that provides their names and addresses and other specified information, including firearm permit and certificate numbers, the transaction date and the caliber, make, model, and manufacturer's number and a general description of the gun

The previous law generally required a two-week waiting period for long gun purchases from gun dealers. The revised law eliminates the waiting period for purchases after April 1.

It is a class D felony to violate any of the requirements pertaining to long gun sales, retail or otherwise.

IT IS NOW A CLASS B FELONY if the person transferring the firearm knows that it is stolen or that the manufacturer's number or serial number has been altered, removed, or obliterated. A conviction would carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a maximum fine of $15,000.

In addition to these felony penalties, anyone who violates the requirements for long gun sales must forfeit any long guns found on the person.

The law allows a court to suspend prosecution for a first-time minor violation under these provisions.

One of the other changes in law generally bars the sale of ammunition or ammunition magazines to anyone under age 18. That prohibition took effect Thursday.

The law defines "ammunition" as a loaded cartridge, consisting of a primed case, propellant, or projectile, designed for use in any firearm. It defines "magazine" as a firearm magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device that accepts ammunition.

Another new law establishes a certificate to purchase ammunition. The certificates are good for five years. The fee for initial certificates and renewals is $35.

Applicants must be age 18 and successfully complete a national criminal background check.

State police can deny ammunition certificates if the background check reveals the applicants are not eligible to be issued a long gun eligibility certificate. In such cases, ammunition certificates can only be denied for criminal convictions committed on or after July 1.

AMMUNITION CERTIFICATES MUST CONTAIN an identification number and the certificate holder's name, address, date of birth, and signature.

Starting Oct. 1, the law generally prohibits anyone from selling ammunition or an ammunition magazine to any buyer who does not have a certificate or a valid handgun permit, gun sale permit, or long gun or handgun eligibility certificate.

Buyers using an ammunition certificate must also present a driver's license, passport, or other valid government-issued identification that contains the person's photograph and date of birth.

Anyone who violates these provisions commits a class D felony.

These restrictions and requirements do not apply to sales or other transfers of ammunition between federally licensed firearm manufacturers and dealers, importers and dealers, or dealers.

Existing law permits police to obtain court orders to seize firearms from individuals who pose an imminent risk of injuring themselves or others. A new law now permits law enforcement to seize ammunition as well.

Current law also gives handgun owners who become ineligible to possess handguns two days to transfer their handguns to an eligible person or surrender them to state police. The same requirement now applies to ammunition in the possession of such gun owners.

" One of the legislators admitted the legislation "was not perfect" but ' "Was not perfect" has gotten to be legislatorese for "STINKS" "USELESS" ""GRANDSTANDING". HONESTLY; your an idiot if you think students are any safer. Pry the boot off your wheel, line up for emissions, pay the pushers tax when you buy tobacco, pay the stupid tax when you buy lottery tickets, live as waterburians in schoolsville, shoulder the burden for those who've figured it out and no longer play by the rules; you're just a plaything, a scapegoat and a sow to be milked by the political class. That's ALL there is to it anymore, mr. good guy. "

" How many innocent spouses and family members will become felons when dealing with the firearms and ammunition of another family member, who is ill or who has died and is no longer able to use them, and are unaware of these complex laws and regulations (many yet to come) when they go to dispose of them? I cannot wait for the first time for this to happen to a legislator, who voted for this Draconian law, or their family member, who gets caught up in it unintentionally.

And what criminals, drug dealers, gang-bangers or convicted felons will be following any of these laws? NONE! They will get their guns and ammo the easy way, steal them (we may very likely see an increase in break-ins and thefts ) or from the illegal sources they used before. I'd be willing to bet almost anything that the violent and/or gun related crime in CT does NOT go down any more then it would have without this law. In fact it may actually rise, because there will be fewer people able or willing to obtain the permits to buy or own a gun or ammo to defend themselves, just as it has in so many other states, cities and countries, which have similar extremely restrictive prohibitions.

Citizens of CT, you have one of two choices: Leave for a better place or vote out the idiots who gave you these laws at the next election and vote in people who will rescind them - the latter being the preferable solution, NRA-ILA, you will have my substantial donation to issue a challenge to these laws and regs all the way to the Supreme Court and I hope every gun owner joins me! "

" Well folks this is what we get for putting money grabbers back in office, with the exception of the few that voted against the new laws in it's present form! $35, for long gun permit, $20. for a long gun permit, $35, for ammunition cert,The cost of your hunting permit which varies in cost, Well, Might just as well get your handgun permit and save money in the long run! The good part about it everyone will pay for these new laws in new taxes."AND WE DID SOMETHING "! "

" "" One of the legislators admitted the legislation "was not perfect" but '"Was not perfect" has gotten to be legislatorese for "STINKS" "USELESS" ""GRANDSTANDING".HONESTLY; your an idiot if you think students are any safer. "

No. What it means that the law will need to be strengthened and more laws will be needed making it harder and close to impossible to legally own a gun in CT. All the while the criminals laugh and sneer at the law abiding citizens with contempt at their cupidity and stupidity. "

" It is ironic, isn't it. They have a war on drugs and prices are never affected. They have a war on illegal weapons and criminals can still buy them, without a waiting period. Maybe we should just have Wall St. Control illegal drugs and guns and we can make health care, and food items like corn and grain illegal. Without corporate, collective price fixing, future markets, etc, maybe food prices could become stable. If health care was illegal, people would seek doctors out with cold hard cash, doctors meanwhile would make money doing what they love, without massive government oversight, and massive weight of an insurance and lawyer class that feeds off medicine. Think a minute, look around. American kids who are smart enough to be doctors, become CPA's and lawyers, meanwhile most doctors end up here on visa's. Ironic and laughable isn't it. We talk freedom and run down to our shops filled with products made by child labor and no labor laws. Laughable, just laughable. We just taut freedom, but our shopping habits tell the tale. "

" Does anyone know of an incident where a person actually needed an assault rifle to defend his home when a pistol or shotgun wouldn't suffice?

Or has anyone ever heard someone say,

"I needed 57 rounds to blast away those waves of thugs. Thank goodness I only needed to reload once"

It would be nice if assault rifle owners simply told the truth about their reasoning: That assault rifles ( and 30 round mags) are a lot of fun. How hard is that to say? Or that assault rifles are an ego/status thing - like a woman owning expensive jewelry or a kid with a hot car. Everyone needs to feel good about something. Or that there's a comaraderie/bonding that builds among assault rifle owners that is very satisfying.

" @ SS ; It's done ,You Won! Tell me why Homeland security needs hollow points to practice with ,armored cars,refurbish tanks? Obama said at a speech in 2008 in Colorado "We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to ACHIEVE the national security objectives that WE'VE set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as WELL-FUNDED." What's wrong with our Military and National Guard not good enough for him? Does he need his own little Gestapo running around? The problem for him is citizens of our age were taught history! We see what he's doing! "

firearms in general are used to prevent crime approximately one million times per year. estimates put the use of all rifles at .022% of all murder and non-negligent homicide. ar's are a small percentage of those, though the number is not reported separately. applying the .022% gives us an estimate of 22,000 uses of all types of rifle in defense situations, compared to 323 deaths.

none of this matters. you got your ban. we keep our possessions. kids are left defenseless. and you all think dannell did something good. "

" Not done yet. I'm sure there are many responsible owners. I'm also sure there are many who are not. Want to ensure some safety for the 300+ million guns out there? How about fining those irresponsible owners who have theirs stolen or let the kids get their hands on them. Just keep 'em locked and away from the kids "

" I always thought Virginia has the ideal climate on east coast, pretty too. Arizona on the other hand is big on States rights, not real big on pinkos. If you like the West and don't ind some heat, Arizona has a lot to offer. They were the last state to sign up to the Union. "

" You guys are attributing stuff to me that I didn't say. And you're interpretating things I said to fit your personal views and opinion of me.

I asked a few simple questions. Like how often is a assault rifle and a 30 round clip needed to defend a home? Isn't that a fair question to ask?

And I also asked why it is very rarely said that assault weapons and large mags are fun ( they are). That assault weapon ownership builds friendships. They do. That there are strong positive feelings associated with owning those weapons. Again, that's true.

The above paragragh are all positive positions. You guys jumped all over me because in the past I've sided with the Obama adminestration on issues. So you attacked me without ever absorbing the content of my reply. You do that to Kitty too. And it just isn't fair.

Al, if you said assault weapons are fun in the past, then I missed it. I don't read every post. I'm away for a week or so sometimes. "

" You get to keep your guns and your current magazines. Yes, they're a lot of fun. From previous posts, sounds like the number of guns and ammo found in the Lanza household was not a lot - some stated it was like an afternoon at a shooting range for them. We get it - it's a light weight, fast shooting gun where you don't need to have good aim to hit your target. In the wrong hands, it's a killing machinge meant for a battlefield and not for recreation. We need to start somewhere. Many school districts are adding more guards (some armed). Though that does't guarantee they'll be in the right place at the right time ... or that they won't have AD's that put the kids at risk. "

" And just for the rec al cap ..I live in the worst neighborhoods in Waterbury growing up As a kid surrounded by drugs an gang members ..and i never own a gun or have the need for one ..if you ever see me you will understand why. 6foot5 260 pounds (solid ) "

" Sandy Can you show us a quote from anyone who has ever had their home invaded who said "I wish my gun had less rounds in it" ??

That's like someone saying I wish I wasn't so pretty, so rich, or so blessed.

I do recall the recent home invasion where Paul Slater broke into a Georgia home. The mother and her children hid in the attic. The attacker eventually found them. She fired her husband's 5 shot 38 revolver until it was empty. The man wasn't killed and it didn't even stop him. I bet she wished she had a HUNDRED more rounds. You can search the web, There are THOUSANDS of these same cases, The liberal press just chooses not to print them. As opposed to the handful of assault weapon attacks they choose to sensationalize. "

" Al cap you sound like a snitch now I know why you need your guns..Tha difference between me and you is tha the neighborhoods you drive by and put your windows up and lock your doors I could just sit there all day. 6 .5 ..260 pouds solid thanks in part to p90x growing up as a kid I live in the worst neighborhoods tha Waterbury has to. offer drug infested gang infested. prostitution and I never ever needed a gun to defend myself ...50 Mitchell ave from 1982 to 2000 ...now I live onMaple hill rd naugatuck ..yeah I madeIt the hard way ..life is good now "

" look like only the deranged can handle assault rifle.A few more nudges and the law abiding citizen will only be own a bb gun with one round capability. I worry when the government will want to cut off our pointing finger because it might scare someone "

" @AL...Roy...conservative.....etc........well now that we have these untenable gun laws in the great state of Connecticut guess you'll all be heading south.....Make sure you take Roy with you before he shoots the governor......omg....... "

" Hi Al, Sorry I missed your invite to the range but I do have some (ancient) assault rifle experience. 45 years ago I joined the Army Reserve ( vietnam was happening). At basic training they showed us the difference between an assault rifle (m-14) bullet and a regular rifle (hunting) bullet hitting a can . The m-14 bullet mangled the can. That's why the instructors told us all we had to do is hit the silloutte anywhere for it to count. And the enemy guy was pretty much out of action. Later in my 6 year reserve duty we would have to qualify once a year with the m-14 or M-16s at Blue Trail range. The Army's philosophy at the time was, "If 10 pounds of explosive will blow up a target then 20 pounds will blow it up twice as well." So our company needing only about 8000 rounds would order 25,000. That was the one time of year I'd hang close to the First Sergeant. He'd say after everyone qualified, "Who want to use up the ammo and I was always first in line. We'd grab a rifle and as many mags as we could carry. {grin} Sarge had two rules for us. First was aim level so the bullets would go into the side of the mountain. "If you aim high the bullets will go over the mountain and could break a window or kill someone. And the second rule was don't fire on fully automatic. Needless to say, we obeyed the first rule but not so much the second. Blowing off 400-500 free rounds was lotsa fun. Especially on fully automatic. That's why I questioned in all the pro-gun arguements I never notice anyone saying how much fun an assualt weapon is. The Second Amendment!!! Constitutional scholars can't decide what it really means. You think the bozos (me included) here know? Probably we could reach a concensus here and say, "The Second Amendment means whatever is best for me" . That should cover everyone. "

" the problem with leaving is that no one wants to move into this crappy little state, except those with their hand out. not to worry, i'll be gone soon enough. in the meantime, i'll have fun destroying kitty's points every day. "

" @sandy- constitutional scholars needs look no farther than the federalist papers for guidance. the men who wrote the document explained their intentions clearly. only those who wish to ignore those explanations claim to be unable to understand.

the .223/5.56 is a devastating round, indeed. and if the new laws had anything to do with safety, why did our leaders not ban all firearms capable of firing it? instead they focused on scary appearance. looney admitted that the prostitution of Sandy Hook gave them what they needed to advance a decades-old political agenda.

the invitation stands. within the next couple of weekends, i'll be resuming my trips to the range. you're welcome to come with. i've got a few thousand rounds of government surplus coming in soon. we'll have a blast. "

" First of all C-1, you are the last person who should interpret the Constitution. By your numerous post you've shown a complete disregard and disrespect or lack of knowledge of everything in the Constitution. Habeas Corpus, innocent until proven guilty, equal rights mean little to you. Those rights only apply to those who look like you.

You constantly blame Obama for raising taxes and borrowing. Those are congressional powers - not executive.

Anyway, there are other ways to look at the Second amendment other than yours. For example, ordinary citizens are prohibited from owning weapons that the militia uses. Like 50 Cal machine guns, plastic explosive, anti- aircraft missiles, anti tank weaponry, mortars, grenades, mines etc. Assault weapon opponents simply say, "Add assault weapons to this list"

While you and many other won't/don't have to agree with the above statement, can you admit it does have its logic and and those weaponry bans already in place do set a precedent.

Now here's a question I've been dying to ask you. Are you a retired Fire Fighter? The reason why is virtually all of your opinions are far right of center unless it applies to Fire Fighters or their union. Just wondering because I too have tons of respect for those guys. "

" @ SS; Nothing to do with C-1 ,but when is Obama going to take the blame for anything negative he pushed instead of blaming it on someone else? Democrats also blame Bush for ANYTHING they did ! What did you call it? "Congressional Powers not Executive" ? Wonderful! "

" what is this, manny? high school all over again? are we gonna measure units next, tough guy? you know nothing about me. i do know enough about you to know that you have anger issues and resort to violence when you get stressed. describing your physical stature indicates that you also intimidate people to get your way, i.e. threatening con1. not the kind of person to be trusted with a gun.

i know all about bad neighborhoods. ride through the one i grew up in, in bridgeport. you ain't the only hard-knock guy posting here.

you brag about our neighborhood, but most of the people you're so proud of living near are gun-owning conservatives. "

" the riffle reminds her of a part of the male anatomy, hence the disgust on her/his face lol

Sandy. I was a paramedic for over 20 yrs. My reasoning behind backing firefighters, cops, teachers contracts is this. When you make a deal with someone (a contract) you stick to it. It's called honor. We have very little these days. One mayor negotiates a contract. The next one comes in and tries to break it. That's not honorable. We as the citizens who elect these mayors have a duty to honor the contracts they negotiate. I also know the difference between professional firefighters and volunteers. It's like comparing the NY Yankees to my grandson's T ball team. I've worked with every dept. between Danbury and Hartford for 20 years. I also know Waterbury has the absolute BEST, hands down.

Sandy there was an incident recently on the news in Georgia. The woman hid in the attic with her children. When the attacker found them she shot him 5 times (with her husbands 5 shot revolver) the gunman wasn't killed or stopped. He escaped. I'm willing to bet she wished she had a 100 round magazine.

As far as other weapons already being banned, grenades, and others you mention. A grenade or bomb isn't an arm. Arms are riffles and handguns that can be physically carried by us. Not cannons. Pull out a dictionary and look it up. I don't need Chuck Schumer or John McCain to explain what the Founders "meant" or that they couldn't have known guns would get better. That's silly. Guns got better daily back then. They wanted us to have the same weaponry to defend ourselves as would be used against us. Unfortunately in CT that is no longer true.

You need to explain to me what you mean by I only want rights for those that look like me? Are you saying I'm a racist? If so explain. Also why haven't you answered my shooting question. I know Kitty wont because no one has giver her one yet.

Who's lives are more valuable? The 300 people gunned down by an assault riffle at the mall one afternoon. or 16 people gunned down daily with handguns for 365 days? It's a simple question. "

" Of course the fun part is all your old school prejudice is going by the wayside......and all your prejudice will soon be as old as you are.....a bygone era and the poor lives you have spawned will be societal outcast unless they see a more just point of view and reject the hatred they were taught as children at your knee...... "

" Al is ok if Manny and Kitty want to talk trash and name call.Everyone is a tough guy sitting home in their bath robes collecting government assistance. Maybe someday we can have a blogger get together, left and right. Have a beer or a coffee and see that most of us want the same things and just take different roads to get them. If they still want to call us names, we can break chairs over each other's heads to settle things.

FYI Kitty our firefighters work a 24 hr shift then have 3 days off. Again you flap your soup coolers without any knowledge or facts.

" Four toddlers shot people this week......responsible gun owners....like I always say we never find out who's responsible until we have bodies or critical injuries.....case in point....Nancy lanza and these toddlers parents..... "

" @AL.....the background checks are imperative to reducing the number of guns in circulation to irresponsible gun owners...which is the first step in reducing senseless gun deaths in this country........and Wayne was for them before he was against them...... "

" k- she spelled it out months ago. she retired from a career as a professional emt, and also helped run the family business, construction, i believe. you were involved in the conversation. there are exercises to aid comprehension and retention in the aging brain. "

" Don't recall it...not a top priority of my top things to remember.......I do recall he/ she talking about what he/she was going to do when he/she retired.....going to that awful state of Florida...... "

" Thanks Al, paramedic. I'm older than Kitty, she is in her 40's I believe. Yes that awful state of Florida. Nothing compared to your 3rd floor apt on Beacon St. Oh and summers with the Obama's on the "vineyard". Maybe you can get one of the Kennedy's to fly you out HA!

I excuse her. She is busy helping Turbo Timmy and Barack save the economy. "

" @Blue and c1.......all I can say is you people must be compulsive liars......what is so unbelievable about what I said......yes..... in high school my best friend's father had a hanger... a private airstrip... and Lear jet on their property in Roxbury Connecticut..the property was at least 40acres......we use to fly up to her school in Boston all the time...and yes the family member owns a piper and flies into Oxford all the time....I lie about nothing.....but I guess you all must constantly lie......wow "

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